Irises

Illustration: Vignette

By Donna  Massa  2005

Irises are one of my favorite late Spring early Summer perennial flowers.  Irises like Orchids another one of my favorites are intricately designed to perfection.  For me, everything about the Iris is a magical wonder of nature.  The Iris takes its name from Greek Mythology the Greek Goddess of the Rainbow and messenger to Zeus & Hera.  Many believe the Iris is named after Hera who carries messages from heaven to earth on the arc of the rainbow and was the companion to female souls on the way to heaven.  In Greek culture purple Irises are planted on women’s graves so that this valor flower will safely guide their souls to their final resting place in paradise.  In Indian and Egypt cultures Irises were used to ornate the palaces also having a connection to heaven.  When the Iris has fully matured and is in full bloom they are so uniquely structured not one flower is ever the same design.  The Iris flower symbolizes royalty, wisdom, hope, optimism, trust and bravery and thrives in temperate zones around the world.  

They come in a wide spectrum of colors and the colors also symbolize special meanings.  A variety of purples present gratitude and respect.  Blue Irises represents hope, faith and devotion.  White, represents purity, innocence, and divinity.  And yellow, breaks from tradition and represents passion!  Irises is the birth flower of February the color is purple, stone is Amethyst, zodiac sign Aquarius, and Planetary ruler Uranus.  

Irises are used for perfumes and aerosol sprays.  There are over 200 known species and countless cultivars, and are classified by two distinct types one being a bulb, the other rhizome.  The Dutch Iris is one of my favorites they are smaller flowers that grow in a bunch with long slender green leaves, and are deep rich purple in color.  

I illustrated this flower because it proposed a challenge to me due to its intrinsic and intriguing beauty.  I also created this for my daughter who loves Irises.  The original illustration is mounted, double matted and framed, and hangs on the bedroom wall in my daughters home in Madrid, Spain…